Sunday Morning Finds: Ines de la Fressange for Uniqlo

Sunday mornings usually start with a long run (I am a back-of-the-pack runner who loves every painful, sweaty mile!), and then end with a lot of sitting and re-carbing. I grab my iPad and catch up blogs and head to some of my favorite sites to do some window/actual shopping. This morning, I wanted to share some favorite finds from a great designer collab.

Yesterday I got to spend the morning shopping in NYC. It was chilly and a little snowy and I was out and about early, so the stores were EMPTY. Seriously, it was perfection. I hit the huge Uniqlo flagship and stumbled upon some great pieces from their Ines de la Fressange spring collection. I feel like Uniqlo flies a little under the radar in blog world, but don't overlook this fantastic store. I'll do a broader Uniqlo post at some point...for now, let's honor our inner fabulous French girl.

Ines de la Fressange is a French model and style icon -- she was the darling of Chanel for many years and has, as you would imagine, that effortlessly chic and unmistakable French style. The Uniqlo collaboration captures a lot of the spirit of modern French style in pieces that could work within just about any closet. You don't want to look like you're wearing a costume or playing a character (remember when Brenda pretended to be French to pick up Dean Cain on Beverly Hills 90210? Yeah, that you don't want to do that), you just want to borrow a few of their best ideas. 

This line is full of some wonderful not-so-basic basics. Here are my favorites:

Cotton Twill Long Sleeve Shirt -- $34.90

What could be more classically French than the perfect white button-down shirt? This one looks relaxed and comfy but still tailored and feminine. You can spend a fortune on a great white button down, but if you're klutzy and spill-prone like me, you'll appreciate the very reasonable price of this one.

Silk Blend V Neck Sweater -- $39,90

I regret not picking this up yesterday because they are sold out of my size online. So simple but so elegant, right? And I love the idea of a year-round sweater -- I'd wear it with my heaviest wool trousers right now and over a tank and baggy shorts in the summer. Perfect.

Denim Relaxed Pants -- $39.90

In summer, I live in lightweight denim. I don't want to give up my jeans but can't bear the thought of thick, heavy denim so I look for fabrics (and styles) that are airy and cool. Done. 

Tote Bag -- $29.90

I love this collection because it proves that simple doesn't have to be boring. Check out the other color combos, too -- I can't decide which one I like best!

Packable Printed Parka -- $49,90

This is so genius. The lightest rain coat imaginable (seriously, you can fold it into a tiny pouch when you're not using it) in a slim cut and a subtle, chic print. I have the cutest bright yellow rubber rain shoes, and I feel like between the jacket and the shoes, I might have a cute enough rainy day ensemble to distract people from the inevitable frizz situation happening on top of my head.

Trench Coat -- $129.90

I'm on the hunt for a classic trench coat and this is a serious contender. This one is from the IDLF Fall collection, so it might be due for a price cut soon. There is no reason you wouldn't want to wear this 10 or even 20 years from now.